Typographical casting machine



June 19, 1951 J. H. HILPMAN TYPOGRAPHICAL cAsTNG MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet l Flpd Nov. 2, 1948 ccc 1 I N VEN TOR ATTORNEYS J. H. HILPMAN TYPOGRAPHICAL CASTING MACHINE llun@ 19, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 j INVENTOR ATTORNIQS Filed NOV. 2, 1948 June 19, 195] J. H. HILPMAN TYPOGRAPHICAL CASTING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 2, 1948 INVENTOR 7( i,... mm l ATTORNEYS June 19, 1951 J, H, HlLPMAN 2,557,286

TYPOGRAPHICAL CASTING MC'INEk Filed Nov. 2, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented June 19, 1 951 TYBQGRAPHlCAL CASTlNQ John H. Hilpman, Springeld Gardens, N. Y., as-

signor to Mergenthaler Linotype Company, a

corporation of New York Application November 2, 1948, 'Serial .No 5l-$8.5.

invention relates to typographical casting machines, such as Linotype machines of the general organization represented in U. S. Letters Patent to O. Mergenthaler, No. 436,532, wherein a melting pot is arranged to deliver molten metal into a slotted mold and up against a composed line of matrices to produce a type bar or siug bearing on its edge type characters corresponding to the intaglio characters Aof the matrices. In these machines, the molten metal is introduced into the mold by means of a spring-actuated pump piston or plunger arranged within the pot and controlled in its action by a rotary cam, which makes one complete revolution for each cycle of operation of the machine. The cam is usually made of cast iron and is concentric throughout except at one point in its circumference, where it is formed with a recess or depression, which at the proper time permits the plunger to descend under the influence of its actuating spring to ll the mold with molten metal for the cast. Normally, however, the plunger is sustained by the cam in raised or inactive position against the tension of its actuating spring through the medium of a so-cal-led pump lever, one arm of which is provided with an anti-friction roller bearing against the cam, and another arm of which is connected directly to the plunger rod. As the parts are thus arranged, the roller is caused to ride idly upon the cam under the constant pressure of the pump actuating spring for approximately ve-sixths of each cycle of operation of the machine (the inactive period of the plunger) and thereby subjects the cam to excessive wear. Thus, in Linotype machines as ordinarily constructed, the axis of the anti-friction roller is seldom absolutely true or in parallelism with the cam shaft, and even though it should happen to be accurately positioned at the time of assembly, normal shrinkage and expansion of the metal in the supporting bracket and adjacent par-ts, as well as the strains set up therein by the pump spring, frequently prevent the proper rolling .contact between the roller and the carin. As a result, the outer edges of the cast iron cam chip and break off, the tracking surface of -the cam often becomes deeply scored, a-nd the operation is bumpy, noisy, and otherwise objectionable.

While the arrangement disclosed in the patent to J. R. Rogers, No, 1,762,890, is intended broadly to relieve the cam oi the pressure of the pump actuating spring during the inactive period of the plunger, the present invention provides an improved arrangement by which the same resul-ts are accomplished to better advantage. Such im- 5 Claims. (Cl. )Z2-70) 2 proved arrangement. the preferred embodiment illustrated, includes .a Strut or prop lor ille pump lever. adapted normally to Sustain ,Said lever against the terni u of. the actuating, Spring., but Operable automatically to release il' So that the Spring may function heretofore at the time 0f castiga 'The esac@ construction and flumtivolns olf the parts will be ,more clearly understood from the detailed description to follow.

In the accompanying drawings, the invention has been shown'merely preferred form and by way of example, and itshould therefore be under` stood that the invention isnot limited to any y specific form or embodiment except insofar as such limitations are specied in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. l is a vertical section through the casting mechanism o f a Linotype machine'equipped with` the present improvements and showing the relative vpositions the parts are caused to assume immediately before the descent of the pot plunger;

Fig. 2 is a-n elevation, partly in section, of a. portion of the casting mechanism and showing the pump lever, as sustained by the strut against the tensionof the actuating spring, in its normal position;

Fig. 3 is a detail showing cer-tain parts of the cas-ting mechanism and -the positions they occupy in relation to .one another when the pot plunger descends;

Fig. 4 is a front elevation, partly in section, showing the anchorage device for the plunger actuating spring and with the other parts `in the position shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a detail yertical section taken onthe line 5.-5 of Eig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a vertical longitudinal section, on an enlarged scale, .of the strut supporting block and indicating by the dotted li-nes different positions which the lower extremity of the strut may be caused to assume `during the 4rise and fall of the pump plunger; and

Fig. 'i is a top plan view, on an enlarged scale, of the strut supporting bioclg. m

In `Fig. 1, the parts are shown in the relative positions they occupy after a composed rline of matrices -X has been justified and just prior the commencement of the casting operation, the slotted mold tZ-being closed at the front by the matrix line `which is presented thereto by a socalled first elevator -3, and closed at the rear by the mouthpiece 4 of a melting pot l5. The pot 5- is formed with a throat or V"passage 6 through which Vmolten metal is forced upwardly Yfrom the ..;..Y. 1*.,4- pot well I by a reciprocating plunger 8 into the mold during the casting operation. The plunger 8 is connected by a rod or link 9 to the front end of a forwardly projecting arm I of a lever Il loosely mounted on a horizontal rock shaft I2 which is journalled in spaced apart bearings of two brackets I3 and I4 bolted to the machine frame. The lever IVI also is formed with two other arms I5 and I6 respectively. the former carrying an anti-friction steel roller Il arranged to track upon the periphery of a rotary edge cam I8 fast to the main shaft IS, and the latter (see Fig. 4) being extended laterally from the sleevelike hub 29 of the lever beneath a4foreand-aft lever 2i secured by a pin 22 tothe rockshaft I2. At the front, the lever 2| is connected to the upper end of a long vertically disposed pull spring 23 which is anchored at itsl lower'end tothe machine base through the medium of a clamp bracket 24 (Fig. 4) and which is powerful enough to-depress the plunger 8 vand force a charge of metal under high pressureinto'the mold. With this' known arrangement, the cam I8, being formed with the usual recess or depression 25 in' its periphery, and by lreason of its engagement with the roller Il, is capable of controlling the operation of the plunger through the lever Il;y

and the spring 23, through the engagement of the fore-and-aft lever 2| with the arm I6 of the lever Il, is capable of depressing the plunger to carry out the slug casting operation, the latter operation being permitted when the recess 25 is brought opposite the roller Il. But it will be noted that, except at the moment of casting (still speaking of the usual known arrangement), the cam I8' sustains the pump plunger throughout each machine cycle of operation in its raised position lagainst thetension of the spring 23, wherefore, since the recess 25 takes up but a comparatively 'short section of the cam track, the major portion of said track is constantly subjected to the wear and grind of the pump lever roller I'I under Vthe heavy pressure of the spring.l

In order to remedy this condition and overcome the diiculties arising therefrom, the present invention provides automatic means, acting through the operating lever for the pump plunger 8, to lock the spring 23 out of action until just prior to the casting period so as thus to remove the pressure of the pump lever roller upon the cam I8 during the time the plunger is inactive. Such means (see Figs. 1, 2 and 4) comprises an elongated vertically disposed strut'or prop 26 connected at its upper end by a pivot screw 2'1 to the forwardly projecting arm ID of the lever II, and having its lowerend disposed in engaging relation to a supporting screw stud 28. The stud 28 is located directly beneath -the strut and is mounted for vertical adjustment in a depending projection 29 of a supporting plate 30 secured by three clamping bolts 3| upon the `machine base frame 32. Ordinarily, the top surface of the base frame in these machines is unfinished and, hence, in order to locate the supporting plate 30 in a true horizontal position, it is provided with three adjustable screw bushings 33 (Figs. 6 and 7) disposed at appropriate points about the same and adapted to support the plate slightly above the base frame 32. The bushings 33 accommodate the clamping bolts 3l; and a semi-spherical protuberance 34, located at one end of the supporting plate 30 adjacent the screw stud 28, serves through its engagement with the topsurface of the base frame to withstand the heavy pressure indirectly applied @91T/.he Strut, .25 by the Pump Spring 23.

It so happens that the strut 26 in its operative position (Figs. 2 and 6) stands at a slight inclination from the vertical and, consequently, to give the strut its maximum support, the screw stud 28 (as may be observed from Fig. 6) is longitudinally aligned therewith. At its upper end, the stud 28 projects above the supporting plate 30 and, at its lower end, it is formed with a head portion 35 to facilitate its adjustments. The stud is also provided with a lock nut 36 for holding it in its adjusted positions within the depending plate projection 29. As shown best in Fig. 6, the

' rear edge of the strut 26 at its lower extremity is formedl with a right angular recess in order that the strut may4 seat squarely upon the upper end portion of the stud 28 and at the same time present a stop shoulder 3l to engage the forward side of the stud. Through such engagement, the strut is vsustained in its normal upright position against the tension of a relatively light pull spring 38, the latter (Fig. 2) being arranged behind the strut 26 and anchored to a small bracket 38m mounted on the base frame 32. n Y y Between its ends (Figs. l, 3 and 4) the strut 26j is provided with an actuating member 40 securelyv fastened thereto by screws and dowelsu and formed with a rearwardly projecting nose portion l; 4I, by means of which the strut may be swung forwardly out of engagement with the screw stud' 28, from its normal or active position shown in; Fig. 2 to its inactive position shown by the full lines in Fig-1. This forward swinging of the strut, of course, takes place in opposition to the; pull spring 36 and is effected by a shoe 42 se, cured to one side of the pump control cam I8, and so located thereon, with reference to the reycess or depression 25, that it is adapted during the norma1 rotation of the cam to function just; before the descent of `the pot plunger .8., To, properly guide 0r restrain the strut 26 against 'lateral displacement at all times, the supporting plate 30 is formed with an elongated fore-and aft slot 43 (Figs. 6 and 7), having upright paral-z lel side walls 44 arranged to embrace the lower. end portion of the strut. As the pot plunger,

'descends and the anti-friction roller I1 of the pump lever enters the depression 25 in the conf.. trol cam I8, the nose portion 4I of the actuating member 40 for the strut 26 still will be engaged with the cam shoe 42 (see Fig. 3) and, as a result, the lower end of the strut will be caused to move different distancesdownwardly and for. wardly (see the dotted lines in Fig. 6) according, to the size of the slugs being cast and the volume of metal ldisplaced oy the pump plunger. in its,V descent. Lateras the pump lever roller I'l' rides. out of the depression 25, and the pot plunger.. starts its ascent to norma1 position after `the, casting operation, the cam shoe 42 willbe carried out .1 of engagement with the actuating member 40., and the strut 2B will be restored by the pull spring 38 to its original position, back into en gagement with the stud 28. A To facilitate the engagement and disengage ment of the strut 28 with and from the support- Ving Vscrew stud 28, the pump lever Il at such times is rocked upwardly against the tension of -the actuating spring 23 slightly beyond its normal position, this being accomplished by making the customary anti-wear shoe 45 at the leading, end of the recess or depression 25, slightly higher thanusual, and by addingat the following end of said recess a second anti-wear shoe 46 of, corresponding height. Accordingly, immediately 1before and afterthedescent of the pot plunger,

artrose the roller vl1 will be in contact llt one and then the other of these shoes "and, through the` its sprnelocking position in; order to permitit to be svi/img freely into and out. of' engasinerelation tothe suppertingY studZB;l Itmay be mentioned at this point `that the anti-wearshoe 45 has been made considerably longer than heretofore and has its highest point disposed midway between its ends; as a result, the pump plunger 8 will be allowed to resume its normal level in the pot well 1 just before it is allowed to descend in effecting the casting operation. Consequently, any additional air that may have been sucked into the mold and throat of the pot at this time will be evacuated and the possibility of producing porous slugs thus avoided. It also may be mentioned that the second shoe 46, at the other end of the depression 25, is formed with an extension 462- (Figs. 1 and 2) to eliminate the wear and grind to which the cam I8 at this point is ordinarily subjected as it restores the pump plunger to its uppermost or inactive position against the tension of the heavy actuating spring 23. Furthermore, and because of the fact that the supporting stud 28 for the strut 26 is located directly 'beneath the pump lever Il, it has been found practicable to make the two shoes 45 and 46 of minimum height, in performing their intended functions, without disturbing the smooth operation of the casting mechanism immediately before and after each cast.

It will now be seen that, as the anti-friction roller I1 of the pump lever H rides out of the depression 25 in the cam I8 upon the shoe 46, the strut 26 Will be raised slightly in the manner just described and thus permit the stop shoulder 31 at the lower end of the strut to yieldingly engage the supporting stud 28 under the influence of the pull spring 38. Then, as the shoe 46 is carried from beneath the roller I1, the strut will seat upon the upper end of the stud and sustain the pump lever against the tension of its actuating spring 23 in the position shown in Fig. 2, with said roller clearing the periphery of the pump control cam I8. This relation of the parts remains unchangeduntil the strut again is lifted by the cam shoe 45 during the next machine cycle, when the cam shoe 42 through its engagement with the actuating member 40 of the strut, swings the latter out of engagement with the supporting stud 28. Then, as the roller I1 rides off the shoe 45 and enters the cam depression 25, the heavy pull spring 23 is released and permitted to depress the pump plunger in effecting the slug casting operation.

In modern Linotype machines, the anchorage device for the pump plunger spring 23 is usually located above the base and within the framework, so that access thereto for purposes of regulating the tension of said spring has been possible only from the rear of the machine and, since extreme care must be observed at such times in order to insure the safe and smooth operation of parts actuated and controlled by said spring, the effort required in making the necessary adjustments has been slow, tedious and otherwise objectionable. To overcome these difficulties, the aforementioned anchorage bracket 24 (see Figs. 4 and 5) is clamped securely to a depending flange 41 of the base frame 32 and is readily accessible from the front of the machine. The upper portion of the bracket 24 (Fig. 4) is bifurcated so as to fit over the flange 41, being formed with an upwardly ourveglgarmsengaging the innerfaoeof the flange and also with .a straight upriehtezitension 4,9-.whioh is directly opposed to the arm 48 and arranged, alongside the outer face of said flange in closely spaced relation thereto. A single clarnping-V bolt- 50, mounted transversely in the extension 49 and banking against the flange 41, holds the bracket firmly in place. Y The body portion of V.the bracket ,24, banks against the lower edge of the flange 41 and, at its lower end, v is formed with a lug 5I projecting laterally there-l from and vertically aligned with a corresponding lug 52 projecting from the upper end of the upright extension 49. The lugs 5l and 52 are drilled so as to accommodate and support .a vertically disposed anchor pin 53, the latter being connected by a hook 54 to the lower end of the plunger actuating spring 23 and being provided with a nut 55 reacting against the under surface of the lug 5l and adapted when turned in one direction or the other to regulate the tension of said spring through the medium of the anchor pin. To facilitate this turning operation, the nut 55 (Fig. 5) is formed with a depending portion 56 which is slotted transversely for the use of any ordinary bar or tool suitable for the purpose.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a typographical casting machine equipped with a reciprocable pump plunger, an actuating rod rising from the plunger, a two-armed operating lever having one arm connected directly to the plunger rod and the other arm carrying a cam follower, a rotatable cam having a track for the follower and acting through the two-armed lever and plunger rod to control the working stroke of the pump plunger as well as to effect the return stroke thereof, and a spring connected to the twoarmed lever and tending to actuate it in a direction to effect the working stroke of the pump plunger, the combination therewith of an upright strut pivoted at its upper end to the plunger-rodconnected-arm of said operating lever and supporting the lever normally against the tension of the actuating spring with the cam follower on its second arm out of engagement with the cam track on the rotary cam, a relatively xed support with which the lower end of the strut is normally engaged, and mutually engageable members carried by the rotary cam and the pivoted strut and brought momentarily into engagement during the rotation of the cam for swinging the strut about its pivot to disengage its lower end from the support before the casting period and thereby permit the actuating spring to exercise itself in effecting the working stroke of the pump plunger.

2. The combination according to claim 1 including, as an additional element, a spring attached to the strut near its lower end and tending constantly to hold it in its normal active position, said spring yielding to permit the lower end of the strut to be disengaged from the support during the momentary engagement of the mutually engageable members carried by the rotary cam and the strut and exercising itself after the mutually engageable members have passed out of engagement to effect the re-engagement of the lower end of the strut Iwith the support.

3. A combination according to claim 2, wherein the support is formed with an elongated guide slot in which the lower end of the strut is arranged to swing as it is disengaged from and reengaged with the support.

4. A combination according to claim 2, wherein the support includes an adjustable upright stud arranged in direct line with the strut. Y` Y v 5. A combination according to claim 2, wherein the support*l comprises a at plate adjustably mounted upon the xed machine frame.

I JOHN H. HILPMAN.

REFERENCES CITED Number 8 'l UNITED STATES PATENTS AvName Date Brown etal July 30, 1907 Thompson Dec. 1, 1914 Brand et al. Mar. 7, 1916 Rogers June 10, 1930 Willis Aug. 30, 1932 

